Playing in sand develops multiple skills in children, from developing motor skills to building hand-eye coordination; it’s fun n’ play. Keep a sandbox at home; your kids will be overjoyed. But when it comes to choosing the type of sand to fill in it, always go for the best sand for the sandbox. Not too sure about what kinds of sands are available in the market. This blog will be of utmost help.
Benefits Of Sand Play
Sand play is advantageous for children for several reasons.
Offers hours of fun learning as your child gets to learn various names and shapes of structures made from sand. Improves language abilities, communication skills and social skills. Improves chances of learning about proprioceptive senses as they get completely immersed into the sand; thus, understanding the body relative to space. Lets your child develop fine motor skills as they use tools to dig, bury and build in the sand.
Types Of Sand For Sandbox
Different types of sand can be used to fill up a sandbox.
11 Best Sand For Sandboxes
1. Best Environmental-Friendly:Sandtastik Sparkling White Play Sand
Ideal for childcare centers and early childhood classrooms, this play sand helps create castles or sculptures by adding a little water. This one is ideal for indoor and outdoor play. Molds will be great when moist. The sand is environmental-friendly and contains no quartz and silica. Pros
Devoid of unwanted chemicals Has soft texture Naturally occurring sparkle Minimal fine particle content
Cons
May not be clean
2. Best Hypoallergenic Kinetic Sand:Kinetic Sand Construction Site Folding Sandbox Playset
Made from natural sand, this one is non-toxic, hypoallergenic kinetic sand. It is free of casein, gluten, and wheat. Ideal for children aged three and above, this playset offers endless construction fun. You get everything needed to create a construction site. The playset comes with 2lb brown kinetic sand, a dump truck with brick molds in the back, a brick platform, a folding sandbox, a working crane with a wrecking ball, bucket attachments, and an instruction sheet. Pros
Easy-to-separate sand Easy to clean Enclosed construction-themed play space
Cons
May create a lot of mess Truck parts may fall soon
3. Best For Relaxing:Cool Sand Off-White Refill Pack
Moldable, safe, and mess-free, this off-white sand doesn’t dry out when shaped, sliced, or molded. The sand sticks to itself and not on any other material; hence, it is easy to clean. Moreover, it is 100% non-toxic. It can stimulate the creative, educational, and sensory skills of your child while letting them have fun. The pack includes an inflatable sandbox tray that makes everything convenient. Pros
Relaxes and de-stresses people of all ages Can also be used as a fidget toy Squishable, squeezable, and stretchable 98% non-toxic and 2% polymer wax
Cons
Does not get wet May not be mixed with regular sand
4. Best Mess-Free:Kiddos Land Dino Play Sand
Magical and safe, this play sand has the fluidity, texture, and plasticine plasticity of ordinary sand. It also has the culpability and cleavability of toy sand. Durable, it is made of 100% non-toxic and eco-friendly material; and is safe to play with. The sand kit comprises moving sand, cleaning tools, dyno molds, sandbox, dinosaur toy, etc.. Pros
Includes 38 different sand accessories Inflation-free and mess-free Easy to fold and unfold Comfortable and motivates imagination and creativity
Cons
Accessories may not be durable May not stick adequately
5. Best For Building And Molding:Quickrete Play Sand
With 50lb sand in one bag, you can choose this option if you want to make concrete or fill the sandbox of your child. This play sand is ideal for building and molding. To ensure safety, the sand has been screened, washed, and dried appropriately. Pros
Non-dusty sand Fine option to play with Soft to touch
Cons
May not be 100% safe
6. Best For Finger Flexibility:Theefun Dino Sand Kit
With 3lb of sand in red, blue, and original colors, the moving sand has the fluidity and texture of ordinary sand. The entire kit consists of amazing 46-piece accessories to play with. You will get ten dinosaur figures, five fake trees, and ten dino molds to build a mini dinosaur world. If not, you can also build a castle with five sand tools and six castle molds. You will also receive small dummy accessories, shovel, footprint roller, foldable sandbox, etc. Pros
Helps develop eye-hand coordination Improves finger flexibility Enhances imagination and creativity A free foldable sandbox that can be folded and unfolded within seconds
Cons
Sand may not be sufficient for the entire box May not be durable
7. Best Non-Toxic:Earthborn Elements Play Sand
Designed for outdoor and indoor play areas and sandboxes, this helps children build and mold as per their imagination. This play sand helps your little one promote spatial awareness, kinesthetics and creativity. The sand can be grated, washed, and refined. Pros
Non-toxic Clean and devoid of smell Durable bucket
Cons
May not mold well Would have to stay wet to play
8. Best Silica-Free:Calcean BAHA Natural Play Sand
Non-toxic and sustainable, this play sand is quartz-, dust- and silica-free. This is an ideal play material safe for your children. Harvested from the crystal-clear oceans of The Bahamas, this play sand doesn’t have any impurities or harmful organics. It has a round and smooth texture and is uniform in grain size. Pros
Ideal for indoor and outdoor play Environmental-friendly Easily moldable
Cons
Could be powdery May create a lot of mess
9. Best Cute And Attractive Set:Little Chubby One Play Sand Set
The set consists of five pounds non-toxic sand in blue, green, pink, purple, orange, yellow, red, and white. With the help of plastic molds, you can create a seal life to develop an underwater adventure. The sand can cling together and hold the shape, letting you create beautiful art. Furthermore, the sand set offers sensory and tactile stimulation while helping children develop creative and motor skills. Pros
Includes qualitative tray constructed of thick cardboard Helps prevent tearing and ripping when playing Cute and attractive set Non-messy sand
Cons
Figurines are made of glass Moldings are relatively thin
10. Best Child-Friendly:Classic Sand & Play for Sandbox
Premium, soft, and easy to mold, the sand has been grated, washed, and dried cautiously to ensure it is 100% safe and non-toxic. It is ideal for early learning during outdoor and indoor play sessions. Inspiring imagination and creativity, the sand is for indoor arts and crafts, sand table, and kid’s sandbox. Moreover, it helps keep children mentally and physically engaged and active. Pros
Stimulates hand-eye coordination Adequate for sand tray therapy or sensory activities Child-friendly for dry and wet use Natural and safe
Cons
Could be extremely dry Might be difficult to pack
11. Best Organic:Shiny Stone Colorful Sand
With up to 40 vibrant sand colors, this collection offers a perfect fun-filled experience for terrarium sand, sand art, craft sand, and play sand. A 250g packed in a jar lets you seamlessly store the sand for future projects. It is UV-stable, non-clumping, and non-toxic; hence, safe for use and will not fade in the light. With no polymers, the sand offers endless craft and exciting timing. Pros
Natural, organic, and kid-friendly Non-clumping sand that flows easily Well-packaged in a jar Can endure direct heat and sunlight
Cons
Quantity could be less
How To Choose The Right Sand For Sandbox?
When buying sand for sandbox, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose primarily writes about children’s toys, and hence, she knows the likes and dislikes of children. In this post on the best sand for sandboxes, she tells you the benefits of sand play and the types of sand you should choose. The writer has also listed the pros and cons of each product to help you make an informed choice. Moreover, she has ensured that the sands listed here are non-toxic and safe for children. Besides molding various shapes, you can teach your children to get engaged in playing with toys and trucks in the sand, drawing, and treasure hunting. The above list could help you choose the best sand for the sandbox.
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